The Seat Of Elderwood

Southenheim held on to the biggest desert of the entire realm of Hindenburg. 'The Grand Desert of Berkley', Once known as the 'Golden Land', it had the greatest production of gold. However, over time, the gold was all sucked out of it. Some people still believe that it is a gold behemoth.

It was midday in Central Berkley, a county of Southenheim. Ton, Ton, Ton the bell rang. There were barely any people on the streets; however, there was one figure sitting on a side path under the shade of a building. Her lips were dried out, her face was dark and poor, her hair was long and black. She was a beggar. Her hazel eyes, however, kept stating that a lie.

"Water-water-water" she whispered. Her eyes were nearly crying, her lips were sticking together due to dryness and dehydration.

"Meria?" A man approached. His footsteps were slow and steady. He had a tall body, complimented by his muscles. His hair was short and dark, his eyes were the same. His beard was very short and no different in color. "I have been looking for you, I am Noah Oak, I was your father—" he couldn't finish.

"Water?" She said.

"Sure," he unclipped a flask hanging at his waist and gave it to her. Noah felt pity for her condition. "Your father…" Noah hesitated, as she was hastily throwing water down her throat. "He's…no more."

Meria wiped her mouth and gave the flask back to the man."What does the dead man want from me?" She asked.

"Not him…your sisters. They need you. You're the eldest…you must return to Elderwood, and accept your duties as the duchess." the man said, his brows close to each other.

"Should've known that before driving me to this damned 'sand-land'," she cursed. "Those bitches didn't support me when the old cunt treated us like some cursed worthless wenches. Now they can't control the damn estate." 

"Your sisters have always lamented your departure," 

"Lamented," she chuckled. "I fought for my rights when they didn't even know how to talk. Even after I was banished to this desert. I fought for my survival."

"Fought? Forgive me, My Lady, but what you did is called begging, not fighting." The man spoke.

"Easier said than done."

"Do you think it was easy for your sisters to survive under your father?" Noah barked.

Meria said nothing. That old bastard! He never let me get the faintest idea that I would inherit the duchy. He fucked and fucked, making more and more sisters for me. All in the hope for a son, and now the cunt lies dead, and my dear sisters, present me with what I always struggled for: my fuckin' birth right.

"I'll go," she said. 

The two departed from Berkley on camelback, Meria sitting behind Noah. They had to cross the 'The Grand Desert of Berkley' to reach the far east. The journey in the desert was rough, unforgiving, and hot.

"'Tis hell of a journey," Noah wiped sweat off his forehead. His body was moving as little as the camels.

"I crossed it on foot when I came 'ere. I nearly died, days extremely hot and nights absurdly cold." Meria smirked. "I'm way stronger and harsher than you men." 

Noah said nothing.

"Anyway, who runs Elderwood in my absence?" She asked.

"Lady Sinthia," Noah said.

"Sinthia? What of Neena, Samantha, and Tory?"

"They are all married," Noah said, his eyes roaming around, inspecting the desert.

"Married? To whom?" she asked in surprise.

"They were married to Heirs of the 3 counties," he said. "Lady Neena married Ser Locke Oldwood, heir to Birchland; Lady Samantha was wed to Ser William Carpenter, heir to Woodland; Lady Tory married Ser Sergio Mapleton, heir to Maplewood."

"Bloody old man, he would've sold me if not banished," she chuckled.

"Lady Sinthia is engaged to Ser Reilly Oak, my elder brother, heir to Oakland," he smiled.

"Hmm, do any of them have children?"

"Lady Neena has 4 sons," he said.

"Woah, how did the old fuck react to that?" she laughed.

"Can't say I know of his reaction," Noah chuckled. "Lady Samantha has 3 boys and a daughter; Lady Tory has a daughter and is carrying a child in her womb." Noah smiled. "They all seem happy—" Noah was interrupted.

"Shh," Meria hissed. She was suddenly feeling a little better from the heat. A breeze swung by. "Down! Hurry up!" she jumped out of the saddle. Noah got down, wondering what was going on. Meria brought the camel down to its knees, making it sit, and stuck herself to its body. "Storms coming, sit down." 

"I am the closest cousin to your father, woman," Marquess Donald Ivory spat the word like a curse. Standing in the ducal seat room, a beautiful woman with hazel eyes and black hair sat on the seat. Beside her stood a man with purple eyes and brown hair. "The Duke has no heir. I must inherit Elderwood," he said. His fat posture and short height were a laughable sight, which was made funnier by his mustache. His hair was a shade greenish-dark.

"My sister, Meria Blackwood, is his heir!" Sinthia Blackwood growled. "And she is on her way here to accept her duties."

"Did your father tell you that? Eh, he'd be ashamed to have a woman inherit his seat," Donald sneered.

"I have imperial orders for her succession,"

"Which you got approved from the Emperor deceitfully," spoke a man behind Donald. He was tall and bulky. He had the same hair color as Donald.

"I respectfully ask you to return, uncle," Sinthia spoke in a polite tone.

"I will never let a blood-splashing whore sit above me as duchess," Donald smirked.

Reilly Oak unsheathed his sword, followed by Tarley Ivory, the man behind Donald.

"You have just insulted your Lady," Sinthia growled in anger. "I can have your head severed for that. You fat shit, quietly go back to your whorehouse, and I might overlook it." 

Donald signaled to his son not to take any action, and both sides sheathed their swords.

"I challenge your duchess to a battle of succession!" The fat man roared.

"Hahahaha… Uncle, Uncle, uncle," Sinthia laughed. "Is this your so-called honor? Challenging a woman to a sword fight?" She chuckled. 

"I asked, you bitches politely. A week from now, I'll be back. Tell your whore to get a champion." The Marquess turned and left.